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“I wanted to talk to you about Dahlia.”
“What about her?” My voice lacks any inflection.
“I know you have your differences, but can you set those aside and be nice to her while she is getting back on her feet? She’s in a fragile place right now.”
“So I’ve noticed.” It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that Dahlia is one comment away from falling apart, but I want to knowwhy. Oliver was a pretentious ass, but he seemed to respect Dahlia, according to my mom, so why call off a successful relationship after nine years?
Ma’s voice drops as she says, “Rosa wants Dahlia to stay for a while.”
I shut my eyes.
She continues, “I’m thinking it would be nice for you to team up on a project to help get her mind off everything.”
I shake my head. “Dahlia and I don’t work well together.” Whatever the activity, we were sure to take opposing sides. Field days. Debate club. Model United Nations. If there was an opportunity to go up against each other, we rose to the occasion and duked it out every single time.
“Please think about it.” Ma presses her palms together.
I pause for three seconds. “Done. Still going to be a no.” Having Dahlia around again is hard enough after years spentavoiding her. Working with her would open myself up to a whole list of problems I have no interest revisiting in this lifetime.
Mijo:My son.
She tucks her arms into her chest. “Mijo.”
“I’m not trying to be difficult, but we have completely different mindsets when it comes to design.”
“So? I think shaking things up will be good for her. Rosa says Dahlia has been in a creative rut for the last two months, so maybe taking on a different kind of job will inspire her,” she pushes.
“Except you seem to have forgotten the time Dahlia called one of my projects an ugly gray box.”
Ma makes a sour face. “To be fair, she wasn’t exactly wrong.”
It’s my turn to glare. “You told me you liked it.”
“I did because you made it,mi amor. As your mother, it’s impossible not to love everything you do.” She pats my cheek with bright eyes.
I make a noise in the back of my throat.
“Imagine what could happen if you put your two brilliant minds together for once.”
There is only one woman in my life I would do anything to please, and she happens to be looking at me like I can singlehandedly save the world if I go along with her request.
“Please?” she asks in that hopeful voice of hers.
I shake my head, hoping to knock some sense back into mybrain in the process.
Mi amor:Motherly term of endearment.
Her shoulders fall. “Oh.”
You could use her request to your advantage…
A plan falls into place. “Actually, I’ll consider it under one condition.”
Her mood instantly perks up. “What?”
“I want you to stop trying to set me up with all your friends’ daughters.”
“How else do you expect to meet someone special with the crazy hours you work?”
